Partick Thistle Football Club

When www.ptfc.co.uk caught up with Simon Donnelly it felt strange to start the conversation by welcoming him back to Firhill. In truth, he never really went anywhere in the first place. As Simon himself reflected that was the second year in a row that had happened.

Simon first arrived at Firhill in June 2006 at a time when Dick Campbell was still the manager at the Club. In the four years since then there have countless personnel changes  with Simon just one of two Firhill survivors from the summer of 2006. By just about a month and half he pips the other survivor of the class of 2006, John Robertson, to the title of Thistle’s longest serving player. A fact which hadn’t escaped Simon’s attention.

“Myself and John Robertson both arrived at the Club at pretty much time and when Jonny Tuffey left, who also arrived that summer, I knew that meant that we would be the longest serving players at Firhill.”

Since making his Thistle debut in a 1-0 win against Dundee at Dens Park in August 2006, Simon’s total appearances in the Thistle first team number 131 and it is clear that he has, and still is, enjoying his time as a Partick Thistle player.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time as a Partick Thistle player. There are a good group of boys at the Club which helps and from a personal point of view I especially enjoyed last season as I was able to contribute a few more goals. Now I’m dipping my toe into the coaching side of things which is a great opportunity.”

Working alongside Jackie McNamara in that coaching capacity is something that Simon is clearly relishing.

“I think it is pretty well documented that myself and Jackie are good mates and I’m really looking forward to working with him and trying to progress the young boys at the Club. There is a lot of potential in the group of young players at Firhill. Two or three of them broke into the first team towards the end of last season and they will obviously be looking to push on and get more playing time in the first team this season.”

As Simon points out though the potential to progress through the ranks at Firhill isn’t just limited to those young boys that got a taste of first team football in the closing stages of next season.

“There are a few others who although they didn’t get a chance to play last season who should be trying to target a place in the first team this season. It would be very nice to be playing in the first team alongside the boys that you are coaching during the week. Clubs like ourselves, where finances are tight, really need to be looking for young players to break through into the first team.”

As much as Simon wants to help the development of the young players he wants also to continue to make a major contribution on the park as well.

“The first part of the week will be spent coaching the young boys but from Wednesday onwards the focus is going to be very much on the first team game on the Saturday. I thoroughly enjoyed playing the majority of games last season and if I can keep myself fit I would like to do something similar this season as well.”

Simon’s contribution last season saw him hit double figures in goals scored and his tally was bettered only by leading scorer Liam Buchanan.

 “Last season, for some reason, I probably scored more goals that my previous Thistle seasons put together. I’m not the type of player to set myself targets but you look at a ten goal return last season and think it would be good to better that this season. First and foremost though an achievement for me will be to get into the first team and play most weeks and perform well.”

Much has been made of the size of Thistle’s squad for the season ahead but Simon is looking forward with some optimism.

“I don’t see why we can’t go on and have a good season especially if we can keep everybody fit. If we can do that then I think we can play as well as anyone in the league. I think we have a close knit squad at Firhill and with some young players breaking through we can do well. We will all be working together to bring success to the Club.”

 “It is a big bonus for me that I will be working with the likes of Ian Maxwell, Craig Hinchcliffe and the ‘gaffer’. Having been at the Club for a number of years we all know each other well and we all get on really well which can make a difference.”

Finally, after the hard slog of conditioning work Simon, like every other player at every other club, is keen to see the round of pre-season matches start. For Thistle those matches start this weekend with a low key fixture with Queen’s Park.

“We’ve done a lot of running in pre-season training and I think if you speak to any player they will tell you that they look forward to the footballs coming out. Saturday’s game is really nothing more than a bounce game but we are looking forward to some match action all the same.”